Turbine pump structure



Feb-39, 1932 J. vi/INTRQATH 1,844,622

TUURBINE PUMP STRUCTURE original Filed sepi. 7, 192:5 2 sheets-sheet 1 "Q *i IIIIIIIIIIIIIII llflllifl. 11,11*.

ifm/MM #rive/Vex Feb. 9, 1932. J A. wlNTRoATH 1,844,622'

TURBINE PUMP STRUCTURE Original Filed Sept. 7. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nim /lv l/E/v Toe. f/ow/v ,4. A//rv Tecn rfa., .y

Patented Feb. 9, 1932" UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE i JOHN A. WINTROATH, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SMITH, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, .AND ONE-HALF TO WINTROATH PUMPS,

' 0F ALBLLMIBRA, CALIFORNIA, A CORPOBATION OF CALIFORNIA E. M. LTD.,

TURBINE PUMP STRUCTURE Continuation oi application Serial No.

133,876, filed September 7, 1926. This application led July 17,

1929-. Serial N0. 378,962.

In a co-pending application, Serial No.

, 133,87 7, I have disclosed a novel method and apparatus for placing a tension on the shaft of a turbine pump whereby the possible depth of installation of such a pump is greatly increased. The present invention is an imrovement over this co-pending application and is a 'continuation of an application filed September 7,1926, Serial No. 133,876.

I have found that the apparatus disclosed in my co-pending application supra is useful in combination with a weighing device which measures the amount of tension on a pump shaft, and it is accordingly an object of this invention to provide in combination with a device for placing a tension on a shaft an indicating device which measures the tension and .which facilitates the adjustment of the Pump- This invention is not, however, limited to such a combination, but is 'also novel in theprovision of a weighing or other measuring device for determining when the correct amount of tension has been applied to a shaft, and which iinds utility4 in certain manipulative methods for adjusting a turbine pump.

' Further objects of this invention lie in the rovision of these manipulative methods.

Still further objects and advantages of my invention will be evident hereinafter.'

Referring to the` drawings, in which the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated, l

Fig. 1 is a vertical fsectional view of the upper end of a turbine pump installation in- 1 corporating my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the lower portion ofthis installation showing the parts in operating position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in the positions which they respectively occupy immediately after the pump is in place. A

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken on the corresponding lines of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, I have illustrated a pump head 11 providing a body 12 and a sub-flange 13, this pump head being ositioned at the top of a well in which a P 5 well casing 14 may be installed if desired.

Secured to the sub-flange 13 and extending downward into the well is a column pipe 15 of conventional design which supports at its lower end a pump unit 16. This pump unit includes an upper bearing shell 17 and one or more pump bowls 18, as well as a lower bearing structure 19. A pump shaft 20 extendsupward from the pump unit 16 to the surface of the ground, this shaft carrying a runner 22 positioned in a runner chamber 23 of the pump bowl 18. The rotation of the pump shaft draws well Huid from a strainer 24 extending around the lower bearing structure 19 and through perforations 25 of this lower bearing structure, this iiuid' then rising through passages 26 of the runner 22 and being discharged into the column pipe throu h passages 27 and 28 formed respectively in tIie pump bowl 18 and the upper bearing shell 17, this fluid then rising to a discharge chamber 70 29 of the pump head 11 in a well-known manner.

The pump shaft 20 is rotated by an electric motor 31 associated with thepump head 11, or by other means associated therewith. This motor is drivably connected to the pump shaft 2 0 throu h a flexible coupling 33 which includes a anged member 34 which threadedly receives the upper end ofthe pump shaft 20. A lock nut 35 serves to lock the upper end of the pump shaft 2O relative to the flanged meinf.ber 34.

This flanged member 34 engages the upper face of an upper race 37 forming a part of an .upper thrust bearing 38. A lower race 39 of this bearing is supported on a diaphragm 40v of a weighing or measuring device 41. This diaphragm is secured to the upper lpart of a boX 42 as by rings 43 and 44 and. closes an annular chamber 45 thereof. This chamber is filled with a non-compressible fluid, the pressure of which is indicated by a pressure gauge 47 which is connected to the annular chamber by a 'pipe 48. Y

The extremelower end of the pump shaft 20 extends into a bottom bearing chamber 50 of the lower bearing structure 19 and isretained from unlimited upward movement by va lower thrust bearing 51 retained in place in the chamber 50 by a bearing retainer 52. The lower end of the shaft 20 is threaded to ing 51 by a plate 55. When the parts of the pump are in operating position the plate 55 engages the lower race of the bearing 5l, as shown in Fig. 2, but during the installation of the pump the plate 55 is Vdisengaged from the lower race of the bearing 51 and rests in a position best shown in Fig. 3, the lower race of the bearing being at this time retained by the retainer 52. '1`he nut 54 is so adjusted that when the lower end of the shaft-20 is in an upward position shown 1n Fig. 2 the runner 22 is correctly positioned relative to the runner chamber 23.

The shaft 20 is also j ournalled in bearings and 6l retained respectively in a hub 62 of the upper -bearing shell 17 and in the lower bearing structilre 19 in the usual manner. Also journalling this shaft is an upper main bearing threadedly retained in the upper end of the hub 62, the upper end of this main bearing being beveled so as to provide a valve seat 67. Secured to the pump shaft 20 immediately above the main bearing 65 is a valve 68 having a lower face 69 which is adapted to engage the valve seat 67 when the parts are in theposition shown in Fig. 3, and to be lifted therefrom when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2. A vertical passage 70 is formed through the upper main bearing 65 and communicates with the passage 28 through an opening 71, the upper end of this vertical passage opening on the valve seat 67 and being closed by the valve 68 when in a lower position.

Threadedly secured to the main bearing 65, and extending upward around the valve 68 and pump shaft 20 is an oil tube 72 which carries bearings 73 at spaced intervals, these bearings journalling the shaft 20 in a wellownmanner. The upper end of the oil tube 72 is retained in a cup 73a of the pump head 11 and communicates with a level gauge 74 through a pipe 75. Oil maybe supplied to the interior of the oil tube 72 through an oil cup 76, this oil iowing downward through passages 77 formed in each bearing 73 and being retained in the oil tube 72 when the falve 68 is in the lower position shown in lghen the pump is first installed and the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, the lower end ofthe pump shaft 20 is supported by the main bearing 65 through the valve 68. At this. time the pump shaft 20 is in compression. It is very desirable that a tension be placed on this shaft when operating, this being usually accomplished by rotating the flanged member 34 relative to the pump shaft 20 until the runner turns freely in the runner chamber. The correct position is ordinarily'determined by rotating the shaft 20 to determine when it runs freely. On deepV a nutl54 which is separated from the bear` methods with the apparatus illustrated. If

the oil tube 72 has been lilled with oil, the upper level of which is indicated in the level gauge 74, the upward movement of the upper end of the pump shaft 20 will have no effect on this level until the valve 68 rises from the valve seat 67 and allows the oil to llow downward through the passage 70. This flow of oil is indicated by a drop in level ofthe oil in the level gauge 74, andthe operator then knows that the runner has been raised.

Another method of determining when this runner has been raisedis by means of the weighing device 41 which, if suitably calibrated, may be made to directly indicate when the weight of the pump shaft 20 and its associated runner is entirely supported by the upper thrust bearin 38. If this method of procedure is followe it is desirable to rotate the pump shaft between adjustments so that the bearings 73 thereof will not exert axial forces thereon.

Neither of these methods, however, compensates for the hydraulic thrust which will build up on the runner when the pump is in operation, andthese methods are thus suited only for' shallow installations. With pump shafts of great length the hydraulic thrust causes a material stretching thereof, thus lowering the runner into engagement with the lower walls of the runner chamber.

In my co-pending application supra I have disclosed a method for placing a tension on the pump shaft 20 which at a section adjacent the runner is substantially equal to the tension placed on this shaft by the hydraulic thrust. This is accomplished by forming the passage 70 of small diameter and forming an upper surface 90 of the valve 68 of such an area that the downward pressure thereon due to the column of oil in the oil tube 72 is substantially equal to the hydraulic thrust which will build up on the runner 22. If the speciic gravity of oil in the oil tube 72 is substantially the same as the specific gravity of the fluid being pumped, the area of the surface 90 is substantially equal to the difference in areas of the upper-and lower faces of the runner, inasmuch as this difference in areas is largely responsible for the hydraulic thrust.

With the surface 90 thus designed, a drop in level indica-ted by the level gauge 74 will `weight of the the gauge 47 will indicate not only that the stretch is out of the pump shaft 20, but also that the valve 68 has been moved upward against a hydraulic force substantially equal to the hydraulic thrust which will build up when the pump is in operation. As soon as the valve 68 is raised into its position shown in Fig. 2 the pressures exerted on the upper surface 9() and valve face 69 are substantially equal, and a'tension is placed on the. shaft 20 which is equal to that which will build up `thereon due to the shaft and the hydraulic thrust on the runner. This tension is made possible by the lower bearing 51 which restrains the lower end of the pump shaft from upward movement beyond the position indicated in Fig. 2. This device for automatically placing therequired tension on the pump shaft is claimed per se in my co-pending application supra.

It is usually desirable, however, to place an additional tension on the shaft to insure that the runner will not engage the lower walls ofthe runner chamber under any circumstances. In this invention a measured amount of additional'tension may be placed on the shaft by means of the measuring device 41. This de` vice, of course, indicates the pressure on the upper thrust bearing, and if the weight of the shaft andrunner be subtracted from this reading, the result is the tension in the shaft.

My weighing device finds utility in combi nation with the lower thrustl bearing 51' whether or not the valve 68 is used. If this valve structure is entirely dispensed with, and the lower end of the pump shaft supported by engagement between the runner and the lower walls of the runner chamber, an upward movement of the upper end of the pump shaft will increase the reading of the pressure gauge 47 in increments proportional to the amount of rotation of the flanged member 34 relative to the pump shaft. This is due to the fact that more and more of the pump shaft is supported by the upper thrustV earing as the flanged member 34 is turned. When, however, the entire weight of the pump shaft and runner is carried by the upper thrust bearing no increase in reading on take place during the time that the runner is moving from its position shown in Fig. 3 into its position shown in Fig. 2. Thus, by careful notation, or by the formation of a suitable graph, the operator can determine when the. runner first rises from contact with the lower walls of the runner chamber. The operator then places an additional tension on the shaft which is equal' to the hydraulic thrust which will build up thereon as determined by experimental data or by calculation, the gauge 47 serving as a means for indicating when this additional tension has been placed on the shaft.

The weighing or measuring device41 of my invention also finds a particular utility ments are made until just in indicating at the surface of the ground whether or not the runner is lower wall of the runner chamber. Obviously, if enough tension is placed on the shaft to compensate for the hydraulic thrust, the runner will not move relative to the walls of the runner chamber as this hydraulic thrust builds up, the thrust being transferred from the thrust bearing to the runner or vice versa. If, however, the tension is not sutlicient, the runner will lower relative to the walls of the runner chamber, and the downward pull on the lower end of the pump shaft 20 will be increased. This increased downward pull will be registered by the gauge'47, and the operator should thus maintain suilicient tension on the shaft so that the reading of the gauge 47 when the pump is stationary is substantially the same as the reading of this gau e when the pump is operating at normal con itions. Thus, the pump justed by alternately starting and stopping the pump and noting the readings of the gauge 47, the tension on the shaft being adjusted between times so that this reading does not change when the hydraulic thrust builds up on thev runner.

The gauge 47 also forms a means for determining any decrease in tension on the shaft 20 due to a permanent deformation thereof. Furthermore, vthe hydraulic thrust on a runner may be experimentally determined under actual working' conditions by the use of this weighing device. v

In this latter meth the upper end of engaging the y may be initially adl the shaft is raised in increments until cory responding increases in gauge reading cease, the runner has been" thus indicating that lifted from engagement with the pump bowl. This primary reading of the gauge 47 is then recorded. Additional tension is imposed on the shaft which is approximately equal to the hydraulic thrust, and the pump is then started to see if the reading of the gauge 47 changes as previously described and readjustsulicient tension is placed on the shaft to prevent the gauge reading from changing during the building up thereon of the hydraulic thrust. If the primary reading is then subtracted from this reading of the gauge, the resultant reading is a measure of the hydraulic thrust actually built up by the runner.

It should, of course, be understood that any number of runners may be utilized, the above description being limited to a single runner 'merely for the purpose of clearness. Il

1. A method of ad]ust1ng a turbine pump havinapump shaft which is in compression aftert supports a runner at the lower end positioned to be vertically movable in a runner chamber, the upper end of said pump shaft extending through a thrust bearin which'method in cludes the steps of.: `pul ng .upward on the upper end of said pump shaft to move this end relative to said thrust bearing; and measuring the downward `pressure exerted on said thrust bearingby said pump shaft and its associated runner'to determine when the entire weight of said shaft and its associated runner is carried by said thrust bearing.

l2. A method of adjusting a turbine pump having a pump shaft which is in compression after the installation of said pump and which supports a runner at the lower end positioned to be vertically movable in a runner chamber, which method includes the steps of: ascertaining the weight ofsaid pump shaft and its associated runner; and pullingl upl ward on the upper end of said pump shaft `with a measured force of increasin magnitude until the weight of said pump s aft and its associated runner is counterbalanced by said measured force.

3. A method of adjusting a turbine pump having a pump shaft extending between upper and lower thrust bearings adapted to take thrustsin opposite-directions and a runner secured to said shaft, which method includes the steps of: ascertaining the hydraulic thrust which will build up on said runner when operating; weighing said shaft and said runner to determine when the weight thereof will be carried by said upper thrust bearing; measuring the thrust on said upper bearing to ascertain when said shaft and runner are supported thereb at which time said shaft is un- `der tension ue to the weight thereof; and imposing an additional tension on said shaft of greater magnitude `than the hydraulic thrust which will build up on said runner when operating.

4. A methodof adjusting a turbine pump having a pump shaft extendin between upper and lower thrust bearings a apted to take thrusts in opposite directions and a runner secured to said shaft, which method includes the steps of: placing a tension throughout the length of said pump shaft between said bearings; measuring the thrust imposed on said upper bearing; and intermittently operating the pump and increasing the tension on said pump shaft until the measured thrust on the upper thrust bearing does not increase as the hydraulic thrust builds up on said runner.

5. A method of installing a turbine pump having a runner secured to a pump shaft extending to the surface of the ground,.the lower end of this shaft having a thrust bearing, which comprises: drawing upward lon said pump shaft until the stretch is entirely out;

e ms'tallation of said pump and which impressing a tension on said shaft which is at least equal to the hydraulic thrust which will be imposed on said runner when said pump isput into operation; placing an additional amount of tension on said shaft; measuring the additional tension thus placed on said shaft; and increasing said additional tension to such a value that said thrust bearin pulls downward even when a maximum hydraulic thrust is present.

6. In a deep well turbine pump, the combination of a pump shaft extending into a well; a runner mounted on said shaft in said Well; an upper main bearing adapted to support the upper end of said pump shaft; a lower' thrust bearing mounted in said well for preventing unlimited upward movement of the lower end of said pump shaft; means for drawing upward on the upper end of said shaft; and means at the top of the well for indicating the amount of upward force on said pump shaft.

7. In a deep well turbine pump, the combination of: a pump shaft extending into a well; a runner mounted on said shaft in said well; an upper main bearing adapted to support the upper end of said pump shaft; a lower thrust bearing mountedv in said well for preventing unlimited upward movement of the lower end of said pump shaft; means for moving the upper end of said shaft upward through said upper thrust bearing whereby that portion of said pump shaft between said thrust bearings may be placed under tension; and va weighing means supporting said upper thrust bearing whereby the tension on said pump shaft may be indicated.

8. In a deep well turbine pump, the combination of: a pump shaft extending into a well; a runner mounted on said shaft in said well; an upper main bearing adapted to support the upper end of said pump shaft; a lower thrust bearing mounted in said well for preventing,I unlimited upward movement of the lower end of said pump shaft; means for moving the upper end of said shaft upward through said upper thrust bearing whereby that portion of said pump shaft between said thrust bearings may be placed under tension; a fluid-supported diaphragm lying in a substantially horizontal position and supporting said upper thrust bearing; and a pressure gauge communicating with the fluid supporting said diaphragm to indicate the tension on said shaft.

9.- A combination as defined in claim 7 including means for indicating' at the top of said well when the stretch is removed from said shaft.

10. A combination as defined in claim 7 including: a pump unit in which said runner is positioned; a valve structure near said runner, said valve structure being open when said runner is in correct position relative to said pump unit; and a tube communicating sov with said valve structure and extending to the top of said well.

11. A deep well turbine pun-1p comprising:

y a pump -unit adapted to be placed in a well;

means for supporting said pump unit; a runner situated in a runner chamber of said pump unit; a pump shaft to which said runner is secured in fixed relationship, said pump shaft extending to the surface of the ground; drive means located at or near the surface of the ound whereby said pump shaft is rotated means for placing atension on said pump shaft; and means for measuring said tension.

12. In a deep well turbine pump, the combination of: a pump shaft extending into a well; a runner mounted on said shaft and adapted to pump fiuid upward in said well: and a weighing` means at the upper end of said pump shaft and supporting said shaft and said runner.

13. A method of determining the hydraulic thrust of a pump runner secured to a shaft extending between upper and lower thrust bearings adapted to take thrusts in opposite directions, which method includes the steps of: supporting' the entire weight of said shaft and said runner from the upper thrust bearing; measuring the thrust imposed on said upper thrust bearing to determine a primary thrust reading; pulling upward on the upper end of said shaft in increments to place an increasing tension on said shaft between said upper and lower thrust bearings; operating said pump between increments; noting the increase in weight supported by said uper thrust bearing each time said pump is. set into operation, said upward increments of movement being stopped when the thrust on said upper thrust bearing remains constant when said pump` is set into operation; and subtracting from said constant thrust said primary thrust reading to ascertain the hydraulic thrust on said runner.

ln testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 12th day of July, 1929. i l

JOHN A. WI-NTROATH. 

